title: Social rehabilitation in long-term conditions: learning about the process.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper is a report of a study of the process of social rehabilitation, and the analysis of the main elements and influencing factors which are important in the process.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The process of social rehabilitation lacks conceptual and empirical understanding in Neurology because most rehabilitation programmes have focused on cognitive and physical recovery.
  
  
  METHODS
  An action research project was undertaken in two neurological wards of a highly specialized hospital in Spain, and was completed in 2006. A social rehabilitation programme based on the assessment of social needs and individualized social education was planned with health professionals, and implemented and evaluated with patients and carers. Several instruments were used to explore how patients and carers perceived the process of social rehabilitation before and after the programme: semi-structured interviews, socio-demographic forms, field notes, participant observations, and scales of activities of daily living, social impairment and adjustment. Comparative content and statistical analyses were undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Social rehabilitation was identified as a dynamic process in which the environment, activities, social interaction, self-recognition and awareness of social problems, coping and satisfaction played an essential role. Some defining criteria for social rehabilitation related to patients' and carers' attitudes, behaviour and the external implications that the socialization process had for them.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows the advantages of multidisciplinary work, and user and family involvement in social rehabilitation and provides in-depth knowledge about how patients and carers experience and could face barriers to develop a role in their family environment, social groups and society.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Navarre, Spain. mportillo@unav.es
authors.forename: Mari Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Portillo
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cowley
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000359:Aftercare / Q000458:organization & administration; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology; D012951:Socialization; D013030:Spain